Collapsible tube holder



Jan. 10, 1967 J. CARDOZA COLLAPSIBLE TUBE HOLDER Filed March 19. 1965 INVENTOR.

CARDOZA JAMES United States Patent This invention relates to a holder for a collapsible tube to enable the same to be mounted upon a wall in a position for easy use.

Many materials of a paste-like nature are dispensed in collapsible tubes, and the manner of handling the tube for use or storage is frequently inconvenient. Often, if a cupboard is not handy, the tube serves to clutter up a wash stand where the tube is most likely to be used.

This invention comprises a holder which may be mounted upon the wall and which is provided with a pair of jaws to grip the bottom of a collapsible tube so that the same may be suspended downwardly from the jaws. The jaws are specially fashioned so that the bottom of the tube will be disposed at right angles to the general axis of the tube and confined between a lip on one of the jaws and a post upon which the other jaw is mounted and by means of which the movable jaw is closed upon the tube to clamp it between the two jaws.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a means for better gripping and holding the bottom edge of a collapsible tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means by which the tube is prevented from movement either upwardly or downwardly being confined between the lip which provides the gripping edge and the post which provides the dual function of mounting the other jaw and of a means for urging the jaws together.

A further over-all object is the simplicity of construction whereby the principal parts may be molded.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible tool holder with the jaws thereon in one position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view with the mounting wall in section showing the jaws as gripping a tube; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmental sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a bracket consisting of a wall plate with a projecting portion having a jaw at its outer end from which there extends a threaded post. This jaw may be integral with the projecting portion and there is provided a movable jaw mounted on the threaded post and which is urged toward the fixed jaw by means of a nut threaded on the post. A lip is provided on one of the jaws extending toward the other jaw of a sufiicient extent and spaced from the post so as to receive the right angularly bent bottom portion of a collapsible tube so as to confine this portion of the tube against movement either upwardly or downwardly when the movable jaw is moved into snug engagement with the collapsible tube and held there by the threaded nut.

With reference to the drawings, designates generally a bracket comprising a base or wall plate 11 and a for wardly protruding arm 12. This bracket may be con- "ice veniently provided all in one piece and may be fastened to a wall 13 by means of an adhesive.

A jaw 18 is formed integral with the arm 12, such as being molded with the arm and mounting plate 11. This fixed jaw 18 has a broad back portion 19 and lip 20 extending forwardly or outwardly therefrom. A post 15 threaded throughout substantially its length may be threaded into a bore 16 in the protruding arm 12 and jaw 18 so as to extend outwardly beyond this jaw 18.

A movable jaw 21 has a back portion 22 and lip 23 with an opening 24 through which the threaded post 15 extends. This opening 24 is at such location that the lip 20 will be spaced from the post 15 a distance sufiicient to accommodate the closure 25 at the lower or bottom end of a collapsible tube 26 when it is folded at right angles to the general axis of the tube such as shown in FIG. 2.

A nut 27 threadedly engages the threads of the post 15 and when turned up by the knurled handle portion 28 will engage the outer surface of the jaw 21 and urge it toward the other jaw 18 so as to clamp the lower portion of the collapsible tube with its right-angularly folded bottom as shown in FIG. 2 between this jaw 21 and the lip 20 of the jaw 18, thus firmly gripping and suspending the tube in a position to depend downwardly and yet prevent the tube from being moved upwardly by reason of the fact that it would engage the post 15 were it so moved. By reason of the right angular relation of the bottom of the tube in this confined area, it is not essential that the nut be turned up real tight. Further the turning up of the nut gradually will assist in the first dispensation of the contents of the tube as it is desired to extract the contents.

It will be appreciated that the parts which are here shown may all be made of plastic for easy washing and non-rust although it may be advantageous to provide the threaded post and nut of metal.

I claim:

A collapsible tube holder comprising a mounting bracket having a base with an integral forwardly protruding arm of molded plastic, said arm having a bore extending inwardly from its outer end and a fixed gripping jaw at the outer end of said bracket provided with a forwardly extending lip, a post in said bore having a threaded portion extending outwardly of said jaw and bracket and spaced from said lip, a movable jaw provided with a rearwardly extending lip mounted on said post, a nut on said post and engaging said movable jaw to urge the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, one of said lips being of sufficient extent and spaced downwardly from said post a distance sufficient to receive the bottom end of a collapsible tube when bent at right angles to the axis of the tube to extend parallel to the axis of said post and form the clamping edge of said jaw.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 951,101 3/1910 Clarke 22294 1,453,332 5/ 1923 Askin 132-84 2,765,998 10/ 1956 Engert 24829 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

